Labor market
Where in Germany more and where fewer people work
The number of employed people is increasing despite all the crises – but things are not increasing everywhere in Germany. If you look further back, there are very strong developments.
Nowhere in Germany is the number of employed people growing as quickly as in Hamburg – and nowhere is it falling as quickly as in Saarland and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania. The three form the extremes in a recently published overview by the state and federal statistical offices.
While the number of employed people in Hamburg increased by 0.8 percent to 1.36 million in 2024, it fell by 0.9 percent each in Saarland and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania to 521,800 and 752,200 respectively. Nationwide – despite all the crises – it rose by 0.1 percent to 45.99 million.
The changes and differences are not only due to fluctuations in the local labor markets. Rather, migration movements, demographic developments, improved childcare options and increases in part-time work also play a role.
Ten countries with increases
In addition to Hamburg, there were significant increases in the number of employed people in Hesse with an increase of 0.5 percent. Bavaria, Berlin and Schleswig-Holstein each had an increase of 0.3 percent, Bremen 0.2 percent. Baden-Württemberg, Lower Saxony, North Rhine-Westphalia and Brandenburg were each at the national average with 0.1.
In addition to Saarland and Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, there was also a decline in Thuringia with 0.8 percent, Saxony and Saxony-Anhalt with 0.3 percent each and Rhineland-Palatinate with 0.1 percent.
More than 40 percent increase in 20 years
The current developments may be small, but if you look back at the figures 20 years ago, there are sometimes very large differences. At the forefront is Berlin, where, according to figures, the number of employed people was more than 40 percent higher last year than in 2004. The capital has also gained hundreds of thousands of residents during this time.
Second place in the 20-year development goes to Hamburg with an increase of 30 percent. Here too, population growth is likely to explain at least part of the increase. This also applies to Bavaria, which is in third place with an increase of 23 percent and performs best of all the regional states.
Over a 20-year perspective, things look weakest in Saxony-Anhalt and Thuringia, with slight declines. Both also lost population during this period.
dpa
Source: Stern
